From their humble beginnings 25 years ago, microprocessors have proliferated into an astounding range of chips, powering devices ranging from telephones to supercomputers. Today, microprocessors for personal computers get widespread attention--and have enabled Intel to become the world's largest semiconductor maker. In addition, embedded microprocessors are at the heart of a diverse range of devices that have become staples of affluent consumers worldwide. This article outlines the technology and business issues that shape today's microprocessor industry: the battle for the desktop, Intel's dominance, strategies of the RISC camps, the pursuit of speed, multimedia and media processors, the influence of the Internet, and the quiet proliferation of embedded processors.